Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong - Kong, Oct 09, 2010

LOT 328

De St. Leu - The Military Trophy Daniel de St. Leu, Watchmaker to Her Majesty, London, No. 1561. Made for the Islamic market, circa 1790. Extremely fine and rare, 18K multicolored gold triple-cased, quarter-repeating pocket watch.

HKD 150,000 - 200,000

USD 20,000 - 26,000 / EUR 15,000 - 20,000

Sold: HKD 375,000

C. Outer: two body, gilt metal overlaid with tortoiseshell, pierced sound holes. Second: two-body, the back with a multicoloured gold military trophy in high relief within a polished wavy-line border, multicoloured gold foliate surround, the bezel decorated to match. Inner: two-body, the band with pierced and chased foliage, pierced rosette in the centre within a polished border, engraved bezel. Gilt dust cap. D. White enamel with radial Islamic numerals, outer minute divisions, five-minute Islamic markers. Gold beetle and poker hands. M. 39 mm., gilt brass full plate, foliate engraved and with cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, brass three-arm balance, gilt brass cock pierced and engraved with scrolling foliage, repeating with two hammers on a bell, stop slide in the band. Dial, movement and dust cap signed. Movement and second case with the same number. Diam. 71.5 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3**

Good

Repair required, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-70-01

Good

ENAMEL AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DECORATION Hairline

HANDS Original

Notes

This watch has a case of very high quality, it would almost certainly have been ordered for presentation by the Sultan or Pasha.
The prestigious watches made by Daniel de St. Leu for the Islamic market are usually either quarter repeating or quarter striking.
Daniel De St. Leu Very fine maker succeeded Rivers & Son to the post of Maker to the Queen (Charlotte) in 1765.